In March and April two new girls, Brenda and Mihaela, both fourteen were entrusted to the “Deborah House”. Tthe usual procedure is that after the abuse is reported and the authorities decide the girl is not safe in the family/foster family, the child stays for about 30 days in a Receiving Center, until the Court decides whether she will be entrusted to Deborah House or not. With Brenda and Mihaela things were different; they came straight to the Deborah House, because…the three Receiving Centers from Timis County are full. While Brenda was strong enough to continue her education, Mihaela abandoned school, and Dr. Diana and Sanda are taking care of what we call educational and occupational orientation.
School and vocational orientation was the key word at the Deborah House this year. Alina, Ana and Brenda graduated the 8th grade and they applied for high-school. Simona graduated the high school, third in her class, and in July she has the graduation exams and college application. Gabriela, Victoria and Dana, finished their vocational training in textiles, and all three of them have passed exams which allow them to continue their studies for two more years and equal the high school diploma. Gabriela and Dana start their apprenticeship as hair-stylists in one of the best beauty salons in Timisoara, while Victoria will continue her education and she will also start in September her training in cosmetics. All the girls finished the school year, and the ones who don’t have to worry about exams can start relaxing, thinking of the fun they will have in the camp at Alpinis with the Christian Life Fellowship group, from Baton Rouge, LA, USA, working along with the Mt. Bethel UMC, Marietta, GA, and the visit in Northern Ireland at the beginning of August.
This spring we enjoyed the wonderful flavor of the strawberries planted last summer in the green house. We had a very good first harvest, finalized with 73 kg of strawberry jam. Over 3,600 fruit trees, irrigation system, a milling and a mowing machine we’ve purchased through a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant, following the application submitted by the Perrysburg Rotary Club, OH, USA and Ripensis Rotary Club, Timisoara. We have also purchased a tractor, funds being donated by Task Force Romania.
While the whole World deals with the financial crisis, God has raised new people to provide for Deborah House. Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, from Northern Ireland, initiated a matching grant of $20,000.00 for the operation expenses.
We are also grateful for a debut: the first grant awarded by a Romanian company. In May 2009 MLI – Deborah House received a grant of 10,000 Euro from BRD-Group Societe Generale Bank. The grant is for education and vocational training costs, for one year.
Lorena Rusovan
